Footage from a physique digital camera worn by Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Const. Greg Pierzchala will present the second he was shot whereas responding to a car in a ditch in December 2022 exterior Hagersville, the Crown advised the opening of the first-degree homicide trial of the 2 accused.
Crown prosecutor Fraser McKracken additionally stated Thursday he’ll present a redacted model of the footage to the jury on Friday when he interviews bystanders who stated they witnessed the capturing.
Randall McKenzie and Brandi Stewart-Sperry have pleaded not responsible to first-degree murder. Each defendants have their very own defence legal professionals for the trial.
On the time of Pierzchala’s loss of life, he was 28 and police stated he was killed the identical day he realized he had handed his 10-month probation interval with the OPP.
After the Crown’s opening assertion Thursday, the courtroom started listening to from witnesses who stated they stopped along side the highway to assist McKenzie and Stewart-Sperry after their automobile ended up within the ditch.
One couple travelling to Christmas dinner provided to name a cab or roadside help, McKracken stated. A mom and daughter on their technique to the fuel station provided to provide the pair a elevate.
The final one that stopped to assist McKenzie and Stewart-Sperry was Pierzchala, courtroom heard. The Crown alleges whereas McKenzie pulled the set off, Stewart-Sperry helped him.
Ontario Superior Courtroom Justice Andrew Goodman is presiding over the trial. It is being held in Cayuga, a neighborhood close to Hagersville, and is predicted to final six weeks.
Others stopped to assist 2 after car entered ditch
McKracken outlined a number of cases of drivers pulling up alongside McKenzie and Stewart-Sperry close to City Line and Concession 14 earlier than Pierzchala, who was stationed within the space, arrived.
The officer noticed two bystanders had been with the defendants, McKracken stated. Pierzchala turned on his physique digital camera earlier than getting out of the automobile, and advised the others he was recording their interplay and making an attempt to determine what occurred, courtroom heard.
In keeping with McKracken, Stewart-Sperry advised the officer she was a map and swerved. As she was speaking, McKenzie moved round to Pierzchala’s aspect. He had a handgun hid in his hoodie’s kangaroo pocket, the prosecutor stated, and used it to shoot Pierzchala six occasions.
The Crown referred to as 4 witnesses on Thursday. Legal professionals requested them to explain what occurred after they stopped to assist McKenzie and Stewart-Sperry, and to explain the scene.
In keeping with the Crown, after McKenzie shot the officer, he demanded the bystanders’ keys and stole their automobile, fleeing with Stewart-Sperry. A special passerby chased them in his car however overlooked the place they went, McKracken stated.
Utilizing the car’s safety system, police tracked the automobile to a house on Mississauga Street on Mississaugas of the Credit score First Nation, McKracken stated.
He stated McKenzie’s household lived at that residence, and a few of his relations — together with his brother and cousin — will likely be referred to as to testify.
Police chased defendants on foot and from air, jury hears
A member of the family warned the defendants that police had been coming and the 2 fled into the woods, courtroom was advised. As police chased them on foot, an OPP officer in a helicopter tracked the pair with thermal imaging.
The 2 fled collectively after which break up up. Stewart-Sperry surrendered quickly after, adopted by McKenzie surrendering, the Crown stated.
In keeping with McKracken, the officer within the helicopter noticed McKenzie discarding a gun, which police recovered and forensic scientists recognized as being the identical personalized handgun used within the Pierzchala capturing.
McKenzie additionally had a cellphone on him that included texts from Dec. 14, 2022. It is unsure at this level if these texts will likely be offered as proof.
Source link